As the countdown to 12 begins, one must eat twelve grapes, one with each of the chimes of the clock that announce the arrival of midnight. With each grape, there is a wish, one for each month of the year. I have welcomed the New Year choking on grapes, since I can remember, but that is not where the tradition of New Year's Eve ends. This holiday and food go hand in hand. Not only, is New Year's Eve one of the busiest days in the restaurant business, but many traditions revolve around food.
Growing up, my family was very superstitious. Much of the "craziness" came about in New Year's Eve when there were so many traditions and things to accomplish to welcome the new year that it became a chore. In addition to the grapes, we had a Champagne toast, followed by washing our hands with sugar to welcome a sweet new year. As I walked around the block with a suitcase in one hand and a broom in the other, I wished that no one I knew could see me. This year I am looking forward to the walk around the block to welcome the idea of a long journey and to incorporating all of the other New Year's traditions.
As years have passed, I have learned more about the traditions from other cultures. Black eye peas and lentils represent good fortune in many places including the Southern United States. Pigs represent prosperity, greens are a symbol of wealth (since the leaves look like paper currency), fish in many cultures will mean a plentiful harvest, and oranges are for good luck in Chinese culture since the word for orange sounds like the word for luck in Chinese. The Philippine tradition has people collecting seven round fruits. The round shape signifies a complete cycle and seven due to that being a lucky number within the culture. These are just some of the few. Each tradition began for a different purpose. The tradition of the grapes began in Spain, one year when the grape harvest was so plentiful that the king of Spain gave out grapes to everyone on New Years Eve. It is now continued due to the round shape of the fruit and the number twelve, representing a full year.
For many, it is the shape and color of the food that makes it good to eat on New Year's Eve. Circles represent a complete cycle, a full year. Green is representative of wealth. Therefore, many cultures will include round, green foods within their New Year's celebrations. This year I will spend New Years Eve at my sister's, enjoying many round, green finger foods that she has planned for the evening. In addition, I will be making candied clementine rings, dipped in chocolate with pistachios to welcome the year with another good fortune.
I will once again choke down the twelve green grapes, have a Champagne toast, wash my hands with sugar and welcome the traditions that I once found embarrassing, as I celebrate with two of my favorite things: my family and food.
Candied Clementine Rings with Chocolate and Pistachio
1 ½ cups Water
½ cup Sugar
2 clementines, sliced into ¼ inch rings
Melted Chocolate
Crushed Pistachios
In a medium skillet, add the water and sugar and bring to a boil.
Add the clementine slices and cook over medium heat. Turning them occasionally, until the liquid reduces to thin syrup and the clementine slices are translucent. This will take about 20 minutes.
Turn down the heat to medium low and simmer until the syrup becomes thick and the slices are tender but have not broken apart, turning occasionally, about 10 minutes.
Transfer the slices to a rack to cool. Reserve the syrup for another use.
Dip slices in melted chocolate and dip into crushed pistachios. Place on a rack to dry.
